27.07.12
Hot weather leads to further speed restrictions
Further speed restrictions were in place on the rail network yesterday due to the hot weather, it emerged. Services running to and from Paddington and Liverpool Street stations were affected.
High temperatures caused speed restrictions to be put in place, with trains slowed between Paddington station and Ladbroke Grove from the normal 25-50mph down to 20mph.
Trains between Liverpool Street and Stratford were restricted from 100pmh to 80 mph.
The restrictions were put in place to avoid the rail cracking, or overhead lines sagging from the heat. Sensors measure when the track temperature approaches 48 degrees and triggers the speed limit.
A Network Rail spokesperson said: “While the core section fromLiverpool StreettoStratfordhas been completed, the sections of railway which have speed restrictions in place today have overhead lines dating from the 1950s.
“The wire in these sections can expand and sag in high temperatures and, as a result, it is necessary to reduce speeds in order to avoid damaging the equipment and trains.
“The contingency arrangements put in place today are tried and tested and are designed to minimise both the risk of damage to equipment and trains as well as any disruption to passengers.”
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